GITTINGS
The surname Gittings is of English origin, first recorded in the British Isles. It is a patronymic name, derived from the Old English personal name Gytta or its short form Gitta. The suffix -ing denotes a descendant or son, so the literal meaning is “son of Gytta”.
In the Middle Ages the name was connected to several Old English compounds beginning with Gēat or Gēot, which meant “gate” or “opening”. Thus, Gittings could also be interpreted as “descendant of the one associated with the gate”. The name appears in various forms in the historical record – Gett, Gitt, Gytt, Gyte, Gething, Gettings, Gettins, Gittens, Gitting, and Jett – all representing attempts to spell the same underlying anthroponym.
Other scholarly suggestions locate the surname among pre‑7th‑century Celtic and Welsh naming traditions. In that context it may derive from the personal name Ceth or Cethin, meaning “swarthy” or “dark”, or from Gruffudd, later Anglicised as Griffith, meaning “strong lord”. Welsh records, often found in English Border counties, show early variations such as Gyttons (Agnes, 1570, St. Margaret’s, Westminster), Gettes (Richard, 1588, St. Dunstan’s, Stepney), and Gittings (George, 1609, St. James, Clerkenwell).
The earliest documented spelling is that of Eynon Gethin, recorded in the Chirkland register of Shropshire in 1332, within the reign of King Edward the First (1327‑1377). Lancashire records dating from the 14th and 15th centuries contain the name in a similar form. A witness named Richard Gittings is listed in the register of the Freemen of Lancaster in 1537.
Historical concentration of the surname lies in England, particularly in Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, and Shropshire. According to the Surname Database, the highest density of living bearers today is found in Hampshire, Herefordshire, and Gloucestershire. In Wales the name appears through the historical Welsh‑English border region. In the United States the surname is predominantly found in the Midwest and on the eastern seaboard, with substantial numbers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland, and smaller populations in Illinois, West Virginia and New York.
In contemporary usage Gittings carries several variants that have evolved through changes in spelling and pronunciation. The most common alternative forms are Giddens, Gittens, Gyddens and Gydens. These variants are found across England, Wales, Scotland, and former British colonies such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and India.
Overall, the surname Gittings embodies a rich linguistic heritage, reflecting both Anglo‑Saxon patronymic traditions and Celtic influences. Its persistence in the modern era, across continents, underscores its enduring place within the tapestry of British family names.
Typical given names associated with the Gittings surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Shane
Female
- Brenda
- Carla
- Charlotte
- Christine
- Elaine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Hannah
- Jane
- Julie
- Margaret
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Gittings in...
Braille
⠛⠊⠞⠞⠊⠝⠛⠎
Morse
--...--..-.--....
Semaphore
There are approximately 1,066 people named Gittings in the UK. That makes it roughly the 7,024th most common surname in Britain. Around 16 in a million people in Britain are named Gittings.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Gittings
- Robert Gittings - Writer (1911 to 1992)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.